As mentioned above, 7 sensors characterizing engine operation are installed on cars equipped with an electronic engine management system. The control controller has a built-in diagnostic system that determines the presence and nature of faults and signals the driver about them by turning on the CHECK ENGINE indicator lamp located in the instrument cluster. Turning on the lamp while driving does not mean that the engine must be immediately turned off, but indicates the need to check the engine at a service station. If individual sensors fail, the controller uses emergency modes, ensuring close to normal operation of the car. As a rule, this worsens the dynamic characteristics of the engine, increases fuel consumption. And only if the crankshaft position sensor fails, the engine stops and does not start. The same thing happens when the damper is destroyed. If the operability of the crankshaft position sensor can only be determined using diagnostic equipment, then the condition of the damper can be determined visually by cranking the engine with the starter. If the damper breaks, it will wobble on the crankshaft, and the alternator belt may fall off.
The most common sensor defect is the failure of the throttle position sensor. In this case, the engine idle speed seems to hang and does not reset. This defect must be eliminated as soon as possible, since, in addition to increasing fuel consumption, it can lead to an emergency stop on the road. Therefore, it is better to carry it with you.
For operation of VAZ cars of the "tenth" model family, the plant recommends using unleaded gasoline. This is due to the fact that most cars have an oxygen concentration sensor that does not tolerate lead. Since the driver cannot determine the quality of the gasoline being filled, spark plugs can help him with this. By the state of the carbon deposit on the central electrode of the spark plug, you can determine what gasoline your car was filled with. If the carbon deposit is sandy in color, then the gasoline is unleaded, if the carbon deposit is red, get ready to replace the spark plugs and the oxygen concentration sensor.
A defect was observed on a car of the "tenth" model family produced before May 2000 - a break in the secondary shaft (gearboxes). This was due to the fact that the secondary shaft had a groove for a locking ring, which held the entire set of gears. With a sharp change in engine speed, the torsional load increased, which led to a break. Today, the design of the secondary shaft has been changed, which made the gearbox more durable.
Chassis defects are directly related to the condition of the roads on which the vehicle is used and the driving style on these roads. Incorrect selection of driving modes leads to accelerated wear of such chassis elements as front struts, rear shock absorbers, ball joint pins, and steering rod ends. It is also necessary to monitor the adjustment of the steering rack.
When starting the engine, pay attention to the behavior of the ignition key. If the engine is started for a long time, the ignition contacts may burn, which leads to the key jamming in the "starter" position. In this case, the starter drive gear does not return to its original position, but begins to rotate together with the flywheel, which leads to the starter brushes burning out and the armature winding circuit breaking.
The cars of the "tenth" model family are equipped with an automatic heating and ventilation control system, which allows maintaining a favorable climate in the car. The most common defect is the failure of the heater control controller, when only cold or only hot air blows. In this case, it is necessary to replace the controller.
Suspension faults
If the car rocks while driving, and especially when driving on turns, if there are uneven surfaces it does not want to be controlled, and if there are also visible leaks on the struts, then the front shock absorbers need to be replaced. Shock absorbers work in a stressful mode, the condition of our roads makes them work like that.
When you press on the hood of the car, you hear a dull knock in the shock absorbers, or these knocks are heard when the car is moving over large bumps - most likely the rubber damper strut has failed.
If the sound is sharper, then these are signs of wear of the support bearing: if an assistant rocks the car, then, by grasping the standard struts with his hand, you can feel these knocks.
The steering can also knock, but its knock will manifest itself when driving over small bumps. When moving the steering rod up and down by hand, it should not move; if it moves, then the clearance in the gear-rack engagement is increased.
When the assistant sharply turns the steering wheel left and right, dull knocks are heard, and when you grab the joint with your hands, you can feel play in the steering joint.